News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

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Monday, May 22, 2017

Prince Peter of Greece as an official greeter

While putting away the Crown Prince Pavlos photos in the Greek album, I noticed these two photos of Prince Peter of Greece (1908-1990.) He was the elder child and only son of Prince George of Greece and Princess Marie Bonaparte. His father was the second son of King George I of the Hellenes.

Prince Peter with King Hussein of Jordan

Prince Peter with Prince Rainier III of Monaco

In September 1939, he married Irina Aleksandrovna Ovtchinnikova, a Russian divorcee. The marriage was considered a mesalliance, and Peter lost his dynastic rights. Although he kept in touch with his mother, Marie, and his sister, Princess Eugenie, his father, Prince George disowned him.

Peter and Irina were remarried in a Greek Orthodox ceremony in 1941. He introduced Irina as a Princess, but his first cousin, King George II of the Hellenes, made it clear that the marriage was not dynastic, and Irina was not entitled to be styled as a Princess.

King George II's brother, Paul, succeeded him as king in April 1947. Prince Peter hoped that Paul would look kindly on his marriage, and restore his dynastic rights. Paul would not budge.

Peter also had issues with Paul's son, King Constantine II, and he chafed at the loss of his succession rights. He also refused to accept a change to the Constitution, allowing for female succession. He did not accept that Constantine II's younger sister, Princess Irene, was the heiress presumptive until the birth of Constantine's first child, Alexia, in 1965. Princess Alexia was the heiress presumptive until the birth of Crown Prince Pavlos in May 1967.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

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Copyright notice

All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published without the prior approval of Marlene A. Koenig. You can, however, provide a link to the blog or to a post on the blog. Please credit Marlene A Koenig and Royal Musings. Thanks

Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.